GRANDVIEW, W.Va. — A West Virginia summer tradition returns to the stage at Grandview near Beckley this week with Theatre West Virginia’s outdoor musical drama Hatfields and McCoys.
Theatre WV’s new general manager is Gayle Oaks. She said her goal with this summer’s productions, which include Hatfields and McCoys and Rocket Boys The Musical, is to bring the excitement of past years back to Grandview.
“My mantra is ‘bringing it back, the glory days,'” Oaks said. “I want to bring it back to where when tickets went on sale it sold out in a day because people wanted to make sure they saw the show because it was professional theater coming to West Virginia.”
Oaks admits this summer’s schedule is a modest one. There are 12 performances of Hatfields and McCoys and 14 shows associated with Rocket Boys. She said there will be three productions next year with plans to bring back Theatre West Virginia’s academy and other special events.
The first performance of Hatfields and McCoys is Thursday night.
“It is historical. This is part of West Virginia’s history. The Hatfields and the McCoys and the battle and how many people got involved and chose a side, over a pig, over a hog,” Oaks said.
Oaks said there’s nothing quite like live theater.
“A movie is sometimes flat, yes, there’s an explosion and it makes your heart race but when you’re sitting there and you see an actual gun off next to you or a house catch on fire or someone gets stabbed…it’s live,” Oaks said.
Many have seen the production of Hatfields and McCoys over the years but Oaks said the show has been refreshed and she believe those attending will enjoy the changes.
“There’s a new director. The stage has been redone. The houses have been redone. The music has been rescored by a local artist, Dan Bailey,” Oaks said.
The performances take place at the Cliffside Amphitheater at Grandview, which is now part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Oaks said the theater is in great shape and ready for what she hopes will be crowds that will grow over the summer. She said those attending will be in for great performances.
“My casts are amazing. They’ve worked hard and the show is incredible, just plain incredible,” she said.
Oaks, who was just named general manager in March, said she plans to use the increased visitation to the New River Gorge area since he was designated a national park to the advantage of the theater. She said she hopes to include theater performances as part of travel packages to the area in the coming years.
Hatfields and McCoys runs from June 22 to July 5 and Rocket Boys The Musical from July 14 to July 29. There are no performances on Sundays. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $19.95 for adults. Tickets are less expensive for senior citizens, military members and children.
Oaks reminds those attending that performances do take place in the rain but not in thunderstorms.
According to the group’s website, Theatre West Virginia was created in 1951 by concerned residents of Raleigh County. It was originally called the West Virginia Historical Drama Association. The first performance came in 1961 with Honey in the Rock. The outdoor drama performances have had more than one million visitors over its history.
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